Currency Keeper

ABSTRACT

An electronic safe which incorporates consumer programmable buttons, along with an on-board central processing unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit, under 35 USC 119 and 120, of thepriority of U.S. Ser. No. 61/393,442 for “Currency Keeper”, filed 15Oct. 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to electronic safes and an advantageous andsimplified design for use of the electronic features thereof, known as acurrency keeper.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The electronic safe, often used for small businesses such as conveniencestores where a significant portion of the payments are made in cash,provides a means to secure excess sums of cash.

These electronic safes may have one or more bill acceptors that candetermine the denomination of bills as they are inserted into the billacceptors and store those bills in cash cassettes inside the safe. Suchelectronic safes may also contain a deposit slot to allow envelopes orother payment methods (checks, credit card slips, travelers checks,etc.) to be inserted and securely stored. Use of the bill acceptors torecognize bills also allows the reporting and tracking of cash depositedin the safe.

The electronic safe is able to provide electronic reports detailingentry of cash, person depositing the cash, time of the deposit of thecash into the safe and details of the denomination of the bills. Thesereports can also be transmitted to a financial institution or 3^(rd)party service.

Traditionally, electronic safes must be placed in close proximity to apoint-of-sale system (such as an electronic cash register system) or adedicated computer with monitor and keyboard, either of which interfaceswith the electronic safe and requires direct cabling. The electronicsafe is “instructed” by use of the point-of-sale system or computersystem.

Another embodiment of the electronic safe is use of a 10-key pad (withnumbers 0 through 9) placed directly on the safe, which connects to theaforementioned dedicated computer. The safe can be instructed via use ofthis 10-digit key pad.

Any of the above interfaces for instructing the safe and/or extractinginformation from the safe are expensive systems that must beperiodically maintained and/or replaced as the items can wear out and/orbecome obsolete.

Traditional electronic safes also include a locking mechanism whichrequire a special key. This requires that a manager with a key be onpremises at all times to facilitate cash pick-ups and access to thesafe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provide a substantial improvement to the ease and use ofan electronic safe by introduction of buttons on the face of the safewhich are consumer programmable to identify a person, indicate anupcoming action or request a report.

The buttons interface with a central processing unit (CPU) locatedinside of the electronic safe. The CPU is a standalone unit which cantransmit data either via hard wire or via wireless signal to an existingcomputer, smart phone and/or a financial institution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an electronic safe as known in the art.

FIG. 2 illustrates the currency keeper of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the currency keeper ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the currency keeper ofthe present invention wherein the buttons are virtual and operatedthrough means of a touch-screen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE KNOWN FORPRACTICE OF THE INVENTION

The currency keeper of the preferred embodiment, referring generally toFIGS. 2 through 4, includes programmable buttons, preferably one each ina different color. These buttons can be programmed to identify a person,indicate an upcoming action or request a report. These buttons can alsobe coupled with an industry standard card reader and swipe cards toindicate beginning and end of a transaction.

The transaction can be initiated by use of a single button punch, forinstance, to indicate an operator. And then, a combination button punchto indicate cash will be fed in. A further button punch or combinationbutton punch might instruct the on-board central processing unit toreport the addition of cash to the indicated financial institution.

Additional examples of programmable transactions are as follows:

-   -   Single button press—each button is assignable to an individual        employee        -   Starts and ends a transaction    -   Combination Presses (No Card Swipe)        -   Press red and white: Initiates a shift-change            -   Press additional button—closes shift on that button    -   Button Press While Swiping a Management Card        -   White Button—performs shift change        -   Blue Button—performs day end        -   White and Blue—remotely updates the software        -   Red and Blue Buttons—Prints current day inventory        -   Red and Green Buttons—Restarts the device    -   Button Press While Swiping a Reconciliation Card        -   Green Button—initiates a reconcilement    -   Button Press While Swiping a Transaction Card        -   Red Button—prints a user journal    -   Button Press While swiping a Maintenance Card        -   Blue Button—places device in maintenance mode

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the buttons arevirtual and displayed on a touch screen.

1) An electronic safe comprising: a) consumer programmable push buttonsfor indicating operator identity, an upcoming action or to request areport according to the programming applied in advance thereto; b) astandalone central processing unit (CPU) located on the inside of theelectronic safe for collecting information and conveying suchinformation optionally via hard wire or wireless signal; c) a noteacceptor; and d) a locking device. 2) The electronic safe of claim 1further comprising are four consumer programmable push buttons each of adifferent color. 3) The electronic safe of claim 2 further comprising anindustry standard card reader and programmed swipe cards to usetherewith. 4) The electronic safe of claim 1 wherein there are fiveconsumer programmable push buttons each of a different color. 5) Theelectronic safe of claim 1 wherein the buttons are virtual and displayedon a touch screen. 6) The electronic safe of claim 5 further comprisinga virtual key pad for entry of a pin number on a touch screen.